Woburn, MA – July 30th, 2012 – Bandgap Engineering, a developer of silicon nanowire solutions, announced today that a key patent for nanowire solar cells was allowed in China.

The Chinese patent application number 200980120567.X with a translated title of “Designing the host of nano-structured optoelectronic devices to improve performance,” covers technology to improve the performance of solar cells by placing scattering centers in volume around the nanomaterial. The resulting composite absorbs more of the incident light for energy conversion. This patent was allowed in China on July 17th, 2012. The corresponding United States Patent #7,973,995, was issued July 5th, 2011.

In describing the patents, Dr. Black explained, “This patent is the first of our patent portfolio to be allowed internationally, and demonstrates the international coverage that Bandgap is seeking for our key patents. Our business strategy requires international coverage and so obtaining patents outside the US is critical. China’s recognition in our IP is especially important considering China’s important role in the solar industry.”

Dr. Black pointed out that Bandgap’s work is complemented by more recent work published by Michael Kelzenberg, Harry Atwater, and colleagues from the California Institute of Technology. Kelzenberg et. al. placed alumina particles inside a matrix which held an array of silicon wires (reference: Nature Materials, published online February 14th 2010).

About Bandgap Engineering:

Founded in 2007, privately held Bandgap Engineering develops silicon nanowire solutions to make renewable power more efficient, less material-intensive, and more cost-effective than conventional power. Bandgap's nanowire-enhanced solar cell designs combine low-cost processing with crystalline silicon to yield high-efficiency products. Their tunable silicon nanowires make these designs possible, helping to make solar power cost-competitive with conventional grid power. Bandgap is also developing silicon nanowires for high-capacity Li-ion battery anodes.